U.S. patent application number 13/685822 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-30 for method and mobile device for displaying supplementary window.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kyunghoon HAN, Chaekyung LEE, Saegee OH, Kyungdae PARK, Sungho PARK, Youngsun SHIN.
Application Number | 20130139105 13/685822 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48467992 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130139105 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Kyungdae ; et
al. |
May 30, 2013 |
METHOD AND MOBILE DEVICE FOR DISPLAYING SUPPLEMENTARY WINDOW
Abstract
A method and mobile device for displaying a supplementary window
dependent on a main window include displaying the main window
corresponding to a selected user function on a display unit, and
receiving an input signal for invoking the supplementary window
dependently associated with the main window. In response to the
input signal, the device displays the supplementary window on the
display unit such that at least a part of the supplementary window
is connected to the main window.
Inventors: |
PARK; Kyungdae; (Seoul,
KR) ; PARK; Sungho; (Seoul, KR) ; SHIN;
Youngsun; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; OH; Saegee;
(Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; LEE; Chaekyung; (Seoul,
KR) ; HAN; Kyunghoon; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Gyeonggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
48467992 |
Appl. No.: |
13/685822 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/800 ;
715/781 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/0481 20130101;
G06F 3/0484 20130101; G06F 9/451 20180201; G06F 2203/04803
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/800 ;
715/781 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0481 20060101
G06F003/0481 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0124965 |
Claims
1. A method for displaying a supplementary window, the method
comprising: displaying a main window corresponding to a selected
user function on a display unit; receiving an input signal for
invoking the supplementary window dependently associated with the
main window; and displaying the supplementary window on the display
unit in response to the input signal such that at least a part of
the supplementary window is coupled to the main window.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying the supplementary
window comprises: allowing one edge of the main window to slope
downward in a Z-axis direction of the display unit; outputting the
supplementary window on the display unit such that one edge of the
supplementary window is connected to a sloping edge of the main
window; rotating the supplementary window about the connected
edges; and disposing the supplementary window on the main window in
an overlapped form after rotation.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the supplementary window has one
of an opaque form and a transparent form.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the displaying the supplementary
window further comprises: resizing the main window or a content
region of the main window such that content displayed on the main
window is not hidden by the supplementary window.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving an input
signal for selecting one of a plurality of items in the
supplementary window or for invoking a sub-supplementary window
dependently associated with the supplementary window; and
displaying a sub-supplementary window on the display unit such that
at least a part of the sub-supplementary window is connected to the
supplementary window.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the displaying the
sub-supplementary window comprises the steps of: allowing one edge
of each of the main window and the supplementary window to slope
downward in a Z-axis direction of the display unit; outputting the
sub-supplementary window on the display unit such that one edge of
the sub-supplementary window is connected to the sloping edge of
the main window and the supplementary window; rotating the
sub-supplementary window about the connected edges; and disposing,
on the main window, the sub-supplementary window and the
supplementary window in an overlapped form after rotation.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sub-supplementary window has
one of an opaque form and a transparent form.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the displaying the supplementary
window further comprises: resizing the main window and the
supplementary window or content regions thereof such that contents
displayed in the main window and the supplementary window are not
be hidden by the sub-supplementary window.
9. A mobile device for supporting a supplementary window display,
comprising: a display unit configured to display a main window
corresponding to a selected user function; at least one of an input
unit, a touch panel, and a sensor unit configured to create an
input signal for invoking the supplementary window dependently
associated with the main window; and a control unit configured to
receive the input signal and to control displaying the
supplementary window on the display unit such that at least a part
of the supplementary window is coupled to the main window.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein the control unit is further
configured to allow one edge of the main window to slope downward
in a Z-axis direction of the display unit, and to output the
supplementary window on the display unit such that one edge of the
supplementary window is connected to the sloping edge of the main
window.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the control unit is further
configured to rotate the supplementary window about the connected
edges, and to dispose the supplementary window on the main window
in an overlapped form after rotation.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the supplementary window has
one of an opaque form and a transparent form.
13. The device of claim 11, wherein the control unit is further
configured to resize the main window or a content region of the
main window such that content displayed on the main window is not
hidden by the supplementary window.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein the control unit is further
configured to receive an input signal for selecting one of a
plurality of items in the supplementary window, for invoking a
sub-supplementary window dependently associated with the
supplementary window, and to control displaying the
sub-supplementary window on the display unit such that at least a
part of the sub-supplementary window is connected to the
supplementary window.
15. The device of claim 14, wherein the control unit is further
configured to allow one edge of each of the main window and the
supplementary window to slope downward in the Z-axis direction of
the display unit, and to output the sub-supplementary window on the
display unit such that one edge of the sub-supplementary window is
connected to the sloping edge of the main window and the
supplementary window.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the control unit is further
configured to rotate the sub-supplementary window about the
connected edges, and to dispose the sub-supplementary window on the
main window and the supplementary window in an overlapped form
after rotation.
17. The device of claim 16, wherein the sub-supplementary window
has one of an opaque form and a transparent form.
18. The device of claim 16, wherein the control unit is further
configured to resize the main window and the supplementary window
and content regions thereof such that contents displayed on the
main window and the supplementary window are not hidden by the
sub-supplementary window.
19. The device of claim 9, wherein the input signal includes at
least one of an input signal for selecting one of menu or link
items on the main window, a specific key button signal, a hot key
input signal, a soft key selection signal, and a specific sensor
signal.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(a) of a Korean patent application filed on Nov. 28, 2011
in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assigned Serial No.
10-2011-0124965, the entire disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a window display
technology and, more particularly, to a method and mobile device
for displaying a supplementary window to provide intuitively and,
in a pleasing manner the supplementary window in which content
dependent on a main window is displayed.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Nowadays a variety of mobile devices have been popularized
due to their portability, size, and multi-functionality.
Additionally, many mobile devices can offer simultaneous multiple
user functions. A user of such a mobile device can select and use a
desired one of such user functions through a display unit that
provides a screen associated with the selected user function.
[0006] In typical mobile devices, each user function may be
generally associated with various screens (i.e., different display
views or pages). Specifically, when there is a request for a
particular user function, a mobile device outputs a main screen
corresponding to the requested user function. If any item or link
is then selected from the main screen, the mobile device outputs on
the display unit a new screen corresponding to the selected item or
link. Namely, the main screen is replaced with the new screen.
Therefore, as time passes, a user may easily forget a dependent
relation between the current screen and the previous screen.
Further, since a typical mobile device merely offers a change in
screen, it may not satisfy a user's various needs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention addresses the
above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and offers at least
the advantages described below.
[0008] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method
and mobile device for displaying a supplementary window together
with a pleasing and attractive display effect.
[0009] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
method and mobile device for displaying a supplementary window such
that a user can be easily and continuously made aware of dependency
of the supplementary window on a main window.
[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, provided
is a method for displaying a supplementary window, the method
comprising the steps of: displaying a main window corresponding to
a selected user function on a display unit; receiving an input
signal for invoking a supplementary window dependently associated
with the main window; and displaying the supplementary window on
the display unit in response to the input signal such that at least
a part of the supplementary window is connected to the main
window.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention,
provided is a mobile device for supporting a supplementary window
display, the device comprising: a display unit configured to
display a main window corresponding to a selected user function; at
least one of an input unit, a touch panel, and a sensor unit
configured to create an input signal for invoking the supplementary
window dependently associated with the main window; and a control
unit configured to receive the input signal and to control
displaying the supplementary window on the display unit such that
at least a part of the supplementary window is connected to the
main window.
[0012] The above method and mobile device for displaying a
supplementary window may not only effectively express a dependent
relation between the supplementary window and the main window, but
also offer a supplementary window with a pleasing and attractive
appearance.
[0013] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with
the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
a mobile device for supporting a supplementary window display
function in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed
configuration of a control unit shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a screen interface illustrating a supplementary
window display function in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a screen interface illustrating a
sub-supplementary window display function in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Exemplary, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention
will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many
different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the
exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the disclosed
embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough
and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to
those skilled in the art. The principles and features of this
invention may be employed in varied and numerous embodiments
without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0019] For the purposes of clarity and simplicity, well known or
widely used techniques, elements, structures, and processes may not
be described or illustrated in detail to avoid obscuring the
essence of the present invention. Although the drawings represent
exemplary embodiments of the invention, the drawings are not
necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated or
omitted in order to better illustrate and explain the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of
a mobile device for supporting a supplementary window display
function in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the mobile device 100 of this
embodiment may include a communication unit 110, an input unit 120,
an audio processing unit 130, a display unit 140, a memory unit
150, and a control unit 160.
[0022] When a supplementary window dependent on a main window is
invoked while the main window is being displayed on the display
unit 140, the mobile device 100 may support a display of the
supplementary window together with variations in display for
allowing a user to intuitively recognize a relation between the
supplementary window and the main window. Namely, the mobile device
100 may not only effectively express a dependent relation between
the supplementary window and the main window, but also may offer an
intuitive, pleasing and attractive display effect for the
appearance of the supplementary window. In this disclosure, a main
window refers to a display view or page outputted on the display
unit 140 and may be composed of various data and software
frameworks of various sizes and types. Additionally, a
supplementary window refers to a secondary window dependent on a
main window and may offer subsidiary various functions or
information associated with the main window. Like the main window,
the supplementary window may be composed of various data and
software frameworks regardless of size and type. Further, the
supplementary window may have a sub-supplementary window, acting as
a main window for the supplementary window.
[0023] The communication unit 110 is configured to support a
communication function of the mobile device 100. If the mobile
device 100 does not support a communication function, the
communication unit 110 may be omitted from the mobile device 100.
The communication unit 110 may be equipped in the form of mobile
communication module so as to support a mobile communication
function of the mobile device 100. Therefore, the communication
unit 110 establishes a communication channel with a mobile
communication system and thereby supports signal transmission and
reception for a mobile communication function of the mobile device
100. For example, the communication unit 110 may form at least one
of a voice service channel, a video service channel, and a data
service channel, with a mobile communication system. Further, the
communication unit 110 may support transmission and reception of
specific signals associated with a selected service channel.
Particularly, the communication unit 110 supports a function
associated with the output of various windows.
[0024] For example, the communication unit 110 may support some
functions for outputting a main window that corresponds to a
dialing screen and for outputting a supplementary window that
corresponds to a phonebook screen in the dialing screen. Further,
the communication unit 110 may support some functions for
outputting a main window associated with a web access and for
outputting a supplementary window in response to a selection of
link on a web access screen. Particularly, the communication unit
110 may establish a communication channel with other devices and
external network and then support data transmission and reception
based on the communication channel. This data may be outputted on
at least one of the main window and the supplementary window and
also stored in the memory unit 150.
[0025] The input unit 120 is configured to create various input
signals required for operation of the mobile device 100. The input
unit 120 may be composed of various input devices such as a
keyboard, a keypad, and/or key buttons. If the display unit 140 is
provided as a touch screen, the input unit 120 may be constructed
in the form of touch map outputted on the touch screen. The input
unit 120 may create input signals associated with a supplementary
window display function in response to a user's manipulation. For
example, the input unit 120 may create various input signals for
invoking a supplementary window while a main window is outputted on
the display unit 140. Additionally, the input unit 120 may create
input signals for outputting a sub-supplementary window dependent
on a supplementary window while the supplementary window is being
outputted. Such input signals for invoking a supplementary window
or a sub-supplementary window may include at least one of an input
signal for selecting one of menu or link items on a main window, a
specific key button signal, a hot key input signal, a soft key
selection signal, and a specific sensor signal. For this
arrangement, the mobile device 100 may further have a sensor unit
for supporting sensor signals.
[0026] The audio processing unit 130 may output audio data
associated with operation of the mobile device, audio data
associated with playback of audio files stored in the memory unit
150, audio data received from the outside. Also, the audio
processing unit 130 may support a function of acquiring audio data.
For this arrangement, the audio processing unit 130 may include a
speaker (SPK) and a microphone (MIC). Particularly, the audio
processing unit 130 may output predefined sound effects or guide
sounds during a display of a main window, a supplementary window or
a sub-supplementary window. Additionally, the audio processing unit
130 may output sound effects corresponding to variations in display
of a supplementary window or a sub-supplementary window.
[0027] The display unit 140 is configured to offer various screen
interfaces required for operation of the mobile device 100. For
example, the display unit 140 supports an idle screen, a menu
screen, and other screens. Particularly, the display unit 140 may
output one of a screen on which a main window is displayed, a
screen on which a supplementary window is displayed in a state
where a main window is already displayed, and a screen on which a
sub-supplementary window is displayed in a state where a main
window and a supplementary window are already displayed. When a
supplementary window is displayed, a predetermined display effect
that indicates a dependent relation with a main window may be
offered together. If a new screen irrelative to a main window is
displayed in a state where a main window is already being
displayed, the main window may be replaced with the new screen.
Examples of screen interfaces associated with a display of a
supplementary window will be described later.
[0028] The display unit 140 may be constructed in the form of touch
screen in which a display panel 141 and a touch panel 143 are
stacked. On the display panel 141, various images and text
constituting the above-discussed screens may be displayed. The
touch panel 143 may have a touch valid region and a touch invalid
region defined according to characteristics of the screen outputted
on the display panel 141, and may also deliver a touch event
occurring in the touch valid region to the control unit 160.
Particularly, when a main window is displayed on the display panel
141, the touch panel 143 may have touch valid regions corresponding
to link items on the main window. Also, when a supplementary window
is displayed, the touch panel 143 may have touch valid regions
corresponding to link items or any other items associated with a
function selection on the supplementary window. And also, when a
sub-supplementary window is displayed, the touch panel 143 may have
touch valid regions in the same manner as in a supplementary
window. The touch panel 143 may create a touch event for invoking a
supplementary window or a sub-supplementary window at a user's
request.
[0029] When a part of a main window is disposed as a lower layer
under a supplementary window displayed on the main window, the
touch panel 143 may inactivate a touch function for the underlying
part of the main window. Similarly, when a sub-supplementary window
is displayed on a supplementary window, the touch panel 143 may
define as touch invalid region a part of the supplementary window
or main window hidden by the sub-supplementary window.
[0030] A supplementary window display function based on the display
unit 140 will be described in detail later.
[0031] The memory unit 150 may store various operating systems
required for operation of the mobile device 100, and data,
applications and algorithms associated with various user functions.
Particularly, the memory unit 150 may store a window control
program 151 for supporting a supplementary window display
function.
[0032] The window control program 151 defines a variety of routines
for supporting a supplementary window display function. For
example, while a main window is displayed on the display unit 140
so as to support a selected user function, the window control
program 151 may have a check routine for determining whether an
input signal for invoking a supplementary window occurs, and a
display routine for offering a display effect to show a dependent
relation between a main window and a supplementary window in
response to the above input signal.
[0033] Specifically, the check routine is to determine whether any
input signal is used to invoke a supplementary window dependent on
a main window. This input signal may include a touch signal for
selecting an item and a sensor signal, e.g., an acceleration sensor
signal, for indicating a tilt or change in direction. If such an
input signal occurs during a display of a main window, the check
routine may check a characteristic list of input signals predefined
in the memory unit 150 so as to determine whether the input signal
corresponds to a signal for invoking a supplementary window.
[0034] The display routine is to display a supplementary window on
the display unit 140 as being partially connected to a main window
so as to show a dependent relation between the main window and the
supplementary window. The display routine may have display
information about both the main window and the supplementary window
and may support a display in an interconnected form by checking
location information about both windows.
[0035] The control unit 160 is configured to control a flow of
various signals and their acquisition and outputting of information
so as to support a supplementary window display function. The
control unit 160 may not only support a display of a supplementary
window while a main window is displayed, but also control a display
effect associated with a dependent relation between the main window
and the supplementary window. The control unit 160 may have a
configuration shown in FIG. 2 for implementing this feature.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed
configuration of a control unit as shown in FIG. 1.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 2, the control unit 160 may include a main
window manager 161, a supplementary window manager 163, and a
function execution manager 165.
[0038] The main window manager 161 may check whether an input
signal for activating a selected user function is received from the
input unit 120 or the touch panel 143. If such an input signal is
received, the main window manager 161 may support a display of a
main window on the display unit 140. Here, many user functions may
be associated with a display of a main window. Examples of user
functions include, a menu screen function, an idle screen function,
a call function, a file play function, a file search function, a
broadcast receiving function, a web access function, a game
function, and a scheduler function. When there is an input signal
for selecting a particular one of the above user functions, the
main window manager 161 may control the selected user function to
be activated in response to the input signal. Then the main window
manager 161 may support a display of a main window on the display
unit 140. Therefore, a main window may be a specific screen
associated with the selected function.
[0039] When a specific input signal occurs in a state where a main
window is displayed on the display unit 140, the supplementary
window manager 163 checks whether the input signal is for
outputting a supplementary window dependent on the main window.
Then, in response to the input signal, the supplementary window
manager 163 may support a display of a supplementary window
corresponding to the input signal on the display unit 140. In this
case, an input signal for outputting a supplementary window may
include an input signal for selecting one of various link or menu
items on a main window, and any other input signal for invoking a
supplementary window such as a touch signal or a sensor signal.
When one of the above input signals is received, the supplementary
window manager 163 that supports a supplementary window
corresponding to the input signal is displayed on the display unit
140. In this step, the supplementary window manager 163 may support
any display effect, e.g., a connected form of both windows, is
offered so as to indicate a dependent relation between a main
window and a supplementary window. Additionally or alternatively,
the supplementary window manager 163 may offer a more attractive
display effect for indicating a dependent relation. For example, a
supplementary window may be gradually displayed as if rotated.
Also, a main window may be varied in a display form according to a
change in a display form of a supplementary window.
[0040] The function execution manager 165 is configured to support
a display of a sub-supplementary window on the display unit 140 in
response to an input signal received after a supplementary window
is displayed, or to support the execution of a particular function
in response to any other input signal. If an input signal for
returning to a main window is received, the function execution
manager 165 may support a display of only a main window by removing
a supplementary window from the display unit 140. In this step, the
function execution manager 165 may offer a display effect as if a
supplementary window is gradually removed in reverse order in
comparison with the above-discussed display effect for displaying a
supplementary window. Meanwhile, when any input signal irrelative
to a supplementary window is received, the function execution
manager 165 may control operation of a particular user function
related to the received input signal.
[0041] As discussed above, the mobile device 100 may provide more
intuitive relation information between windows to a user by
offering a graphical display effect for a dependent relation
between a main window and a supplementary window when the
supplementary window is displayed. Additionally, the mobile device
100 may allow a user to easily recognize related information by
performing a user pleasing display control during a display of a
supplementary window.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a screen interface illustrating a supplementary
window display function in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. The particular windows shown by display unit 140
within the screens of FIG. 3 all are described in the context of a
spatial coordinate system characterized by three axes, viz., an
X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis. Referring to FIG. 3, it can be
understood that the X-axis is defined as any path that is parallel
to the longer sides of the screens 301, 303, 305, 307, 309 and 311.
The Y-axis is defined as any path that is parallel to the shorter
sides of the screens. The X-axis is understood to be perpendicular
to the Y-axis. The Y-axis thus intersects the X-axis to form an X-Y
plane. The above-identified screens lie in at least a portion of
the X-Y plane. A Z-axis is any path that is perpendicular to the
X-Y plane. One can describe motion along the Z-axis as inward
motion or outward motion; that is movement inward from the X-Y
plane of the screen or movement outward from the X-Y plane of the
screen. Thus, outward motion is motion towards a user positioned in
front of the screen. Inward motion is motion away from the user
positioned in front of the screen. It will be understood, however,
that inward or outward motion or any motion or window that uses at
least part of the Z-axis does so based on a well known visual
illusion in which three-dimensional objects are perceived visually
as existing in three dimensional space whereas they actually lie in
a two dimensional space. Thus, motion and position within a
visually perceived three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional
screen is understood in the descriptions that follow with respect
to FIG. 3. Note that above each of the screens shown in FIG. 3 is a
top view drawing of the window and supplementary window being
displayed by display unit 140. Some of these top view drawings
contain an arrow showing the direction of rotation of a
supplementary window with respect to a main window.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a user may enter an input signal
for selecting a particular one of user functions supported by the
mobile device 100, and thus the control unit 160 of the mobile
device 100 may activate the selected user function in response to
the input signal. At the same time, the control unit 160 may output
on the display unit 140 a main window 40 corresponding to the
selected user function as shown in a screen 301. In this step, the
control unit 160 may output the main window 40 on the whole of the
display unit 140. Although the main window 40 is disposed in a
landscape mode (i.e., a horizontal display mode) as shown; this is
exemplary only and not to be considered as a limitation to the
invention.
[0044] In a state of the screen 301 where the main window 40 is
outputted, a user may enter an input signal for invoking a
supplementary window that has a dependent relation with the main
window 40. For example, a user may produce a flick event to the
left on the display unit 140 that outputs the main window 40 in the
screen 301. Alternatively, a user may tilt the mobile device 100
such that the mobile device 100 moves into a sloping position with
the right end higher than the other end. Alternatively, a user may
enter any other input signal predefined for invoking a
supplementary window.
[0045] Then the control unit 160 may output on the display unit 140
a supplementary window 50 as shown in a screen 303. In this step,
in order to indicate that the supplementary window 50 is
dependently associated with the main window 40, the control unit
160 may offer a particular display effect showing as if the
supplementary window 50 and the main window 40 meet at their one
edge and also the supplementary window 50 gradually appears on the
display unit 140.
[0046] For this, as shown in a screen 303, the control unit 160 may
control a display effect as if at least parts of the main window 40
slope downward in the Z-axis direction of the display unit 140,
namely slope inward from the screen, and also the supplementary
window connected to the main window 40 slopes inward from the
screen. Here, the content displayed in the main window 40 may be
the same as that in case of the screen 301. While the front side of
the display unit 140 is defined using a combination of the X-axis
and the Y-axis, the Z-axis direction may indicate an inward or
outward direction from the screen. Namely, even though illustrated
examples show graphical structures sloped inward in the Z-axis
direction, other graphical structures sloped outward in the Z-axis
direction may also be possible in the screen 303.
[0047] The supplementary window 50 shown in the screen 303
substantially corresponds to the rear side of the supplementary
window 50; that is, the rear side of a page to be outputted on the
supplementary window 50 as will be discussed later.
[0048] As shown in next screens 305, 307, 309 and 311, the control
unit 160 may control a display effect as if the supplementary
window 50 rotates about the boundary with the main window 40 i.e.,
rotate about their connected edges). In these steps, the size of
the supplementary window 50 is gradually decreased while a rotation
angle is less than 90 degrees, but is gradually increased after a
rotation angle exceeds 90 degrees. Further, the rear side of the
supplementary window 50 is displayed at a rotation angle less than
90 degrees, and the front side of the supplementary window 50 is
displayed at a rotation angle more than 90 degrees.
[0049] The supplementary window 50 may have an opaque form.
Therefore, when the supplementary window 50 overlaps with the main
window 40 as shown in the screens 307, 309 and 311, the
supplementary window 50 may hide overlapped portions of the main
window 40. Alternatively, the supplementary window 50 may have a
transparent form. In such a case, even though the supplementary
window 50 overlaps with the main window 40 as shown in the screens
307, 309 and 311, overlapped portions of the main window 40 may be
shown through the supplementary window 50.
[0050] The content displayed on the supplementary window 50 in the
screens 303 and 305 may be the same as that in screens 307 and 309.
Alternatively, the contents may be displayed in a reversed form on
the supplementary window 50 in screens 303 and 305, and then return
to an original form in the screens 307 and 309.
[0051] The control unit 160 may resize the main window 40 or a
content region of the main window 40 such that the contents
displayed on the main window 40 may not be hidden by the
supplementary window 50. This resizing process may be continuously
or sequentially performed during a rotation of the supplementary
window 50 or performed just once at the end of rotation, namely in
the screen 311.
[0052] Additionally, the supplementary window 50 may be displayed
in a particular screen form on the main window 40, based on user's
setting or designer's intention. For example, a process of
displaying the supplementary window 50 may provide only the
above-discussed screen 303 that shows a connection of the main
window 40 and the supplementary window 50. Therefore, from a
display effect, which appears three-dimensional, a user can be
easily aware of a dependent relation between two windows.
Alternatively, a process of displaying the supplementary window 50
may provide, as an independent screen, each of the above-discussed
screens 305, 307 and 309. Namely, the supplementary window 50 may
not only be displayed as an overlay form after rotation, but also
be displayed in the form of a still frame in rotation.
[0053] FIG. 4 shows a screen interface illustrating a
sub-supplementary window display function in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention. Although a main window and a
supplementary window are disposed in a portrait mode (i.e., a
vertical display mode) as shown, this is exemplary only and not to
be considered as a limitation of the invention. Namely, the main
window and the supplementary window may be displayed through any
display effect for indicating a dependent relation regardless of
their orientation.
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 4, as with FIG. 3, the particular
windows shown by display unit 140 within the screens of FIG. 4 all
are described in the context of a spatial coordinate system
characterized by three axes, viz., an X-axis, a Y-axis and a
Z-axis. In FIG. 4, it can be understood that the X-axis is defined
as any path that is parallel to the shorter sides of the screens
401, 403, 405, 407, 409 and 411. The Y-axis is defined as any path
that is parallel to the longer sides of the screens. The X-axis is
understood to be perpendicular to the Y-axis. The Y-axis intersects
the X-axis to form an X-Y plane. The above-identified screens lie
in at least a portion of the X-Y plane. A Z-axis is any path that
is perpendicular to the X-Y plane. One can describe motion along
the Z-axis as inward motion or outward motion; that is movement
inward from the X-Y plane of the screen or movement outward from
the X-Y plane of the screen. Thus, outward motion is motion towards
a user positioned in front of the screen. Inward motion is motion
away from the user positioned in front of the screen. It will be
understood, however, that inward or outward motion or any motion or
window that uses at least part of the Z-axis does so based on a
well known visual illusion in which three-dimensional objects are
perceived visually as existing in three dimensional space whereas
they actually lie in a two dimensional space. Thus, motion and
position within a visually perceived three-dimensional space on a
two-dimensional screen is understood in the descriptions that
follow with respect to FIG. 4. Note that to the right of each of
the screens shown in FIG. 4 is a top view drawing of the window,
supplementary window and/or sub-supplementary window being
displayed by display unit 140. Some of these top view drawings
contain an arrow showing the direction of rotation of a
supplementary window with respect to a main window or direction of
rotation of a sub-supplementary window with respect to a main
window and a supplementary window.
[0055] Still referring to FIG. 4, a user may enter an input signal
for selecting a particular one of user functions and activating the
selected user function in the mobile device 100. Then the control
unit 160 may activate the selected user function in response to the
input signal and support a display of a main window 40
corresponding to the selected user function on the display unit
140.
[0056] Additionally, when an input signal for outputting a
supplementary window is received, the control unit 160 may support
a display of the supplementary window 50 on the display unit 140.
Here, as shown in a screen 401, the supplementary window 50 may be
displayed together with the main window 40 in a portrait mode on
the display unit 140. For example, the supplementary window 50 may
be disposed on the right of the main window 40 as shown. Further,
as discussed earlier in FIG. 3, the supplementary window 50 may be
gradually displayed by means of a display effect that shows a
dependent relation between the main window 40 and the supplementary
window 50.
[0057] A user may select one of the functions on the supplementary
window 50 so as to output a sub-supplementary window 60. When one
of a plurality of items is selected from the supplementary window
50, the control unit 160 may check whether the selected item
corresponds to an input signal for invoking the sub-supplementary
window 60. If so, the control unit 160 may control a process of
invoking the sub-supplementary window 60.
[0058] For example, the control unit 160 may support a display such
that one edge of the sub-supplementary window 60 is connected to
one edge of both the main window 40 and the supplementary window
50. For this, as shown in a screen 403, the control unit 160 may
control a display effect as if both windows 40 and 50 slope inward
from the screen and also the sub-supplementary window 60 slopes
inward from the screen.
[0059] Additionally, as shown in next screens 405, 407, 409 and
411, the control unit 160 may control a display effect as if the
sub-supplementary window 60 rotates about the boundary with both
windows 40 and 50. After rotation, the sub-supplementary window 60
may be displayed on both the main window 40 and the supplementary
window 50 as shown in the final screen 411.
[0060] Like the supplementary window 50 discussed above, the
sub-supplementary window 60 may have an opaque form or a
transparent form. Therefore, in case of an opaque form, the
sub-supplementary window 60 may hide underlying portions of both
windows 40 and 50. However, in case of a transparent form, the
sub-supplementary window 60 allows underlying portions of both
windows 40 and 50 to be shown to the outside.
[0061] As discussed heretofore, the mobile device 100 may display
the supplementary window 50 or the sub-supplementary window 60 such
that a dependent relation with the main window 40 or with the
supplementary window 50 can be intuitively recognized with a
seamless display effect.
[0062] If there is an input signal for returning to the main window
40 or the supplementary window 50, the supplementary window 50 or
the sub-supplementary window 60 may be removed from the display
unit 140 in reverse order in comparison with displaying order.
Namely, with respect to FIG. 3, the supplementary window 50 may be
rotated in order of screens 309, 307, 305 and 303 and then finally
removed from the screen 301. Similarly, for FIG. 4, the
sub-supplementary window 60 may be rotated in order of screens 409,
407, 405 and 403 and then finally removed from the screen 401.
Additionally, each of the supplementary window 50 and the
sub-supplementary window 60 may become transparent gradually during
rotation.
[0063] Referring back to FIG. 3, the control unit 160 may resize
the main window 40 and the supplementary window 50 or a content
region of each window 40 and 50. Specifically, when the main window
40 is partially hidden by the supplementary window 50 as shown in
the above-discussed screens 305, 307, 309 and 311, the control unit
160 may resize the entire main window 40 or a content region only
thereof such that the content displayed therein may be fully shown.
Similarly, for FIG. 4, when the main window 40 and the
supplementary window 50 are partially hidden by the
sub-supplementary window 60 as shown in the above-discussed screens
405, 407, 409 and 411, the control unit 160 may resize the main
window 40 and the supplementary window 50 themselves or each
content region only thereof such that the content displayed therein
may be fully shown. This resizing process may be performed after
rotation. Namely, the control unit 160 may perform a resizing
process for the main window 40 and the supplementary window 50 at
the final screen 411 only.
[0064] Like the supplementary window 50 discussed earlier, the
sub-supplementary window 60 may be displayed in a particular screen
form, i.e., one of the screens 403, 405, 407 and 409, on the
display unit 140. For example, a process of displaying the
sub-supplementary window 60 may provide only the above-discussed
screen 403 that shows a dependent relation among the main window
40, the supplementary window 50 and the sub-supplementary window
60.
[0065] As fully discussed above, when a supplementary window
dependent on a main window is invoked while the main window is
being displayed, the mobile device having a supplementary window
display function may display the supplementary window in the form
of being connected to the main window. Particularly, the mobile
device may provide a more visualized display process to intuitively
indicate that the supplementary window is dependently associated
with the main window.
[0066] The above-discussed main window may correspond to a
particular screen of selected user function such as a menu screen
function, an idle screen function, a call function, a file play
function, a file search function, a broadcast receiving function, a
web access function, a game function, a scheduler function, or the
like. If the main window is a menu screen related to a menu screen
function, the supplementary window may be a menu setting screen
that allows adding, deleting, rearranging, etc. menu items. In this
case, the sub-supplementary window may be a text screen that
describes in detail setting items in the supplementary window.
[0067] Additionally, if the main window is a broadcast receiving
screen related to a broadcast receiving function, the supplementary
window may be a broadcast channel selection screen that allows a
selection of broadcast channels. In this case, the
sub-supplementary window may be a channel descriptive screen of a
selected channel in the supplementary window or a channel setting
screen for adjusting the setting of broadcast channel selection
screen. Also, if the main window is a calendar screen related to a
scheduler function, the supplementary window may be a schedule list
of this month. In this case, the sub-supplementary window may be a
screen showing the details of each schedule.
[0068] As discussed above, a main window, a supplementary window,
and a sub-supplementary window may be displayed in interconnected
or dependently associated forms. Each of the supplementary window
and the sub-supplementary window may have a smaller size than its
higher-rank window, namely the main window or the supplementary
window.
[0069] Although in the above-discussed embodiment the supplementary
window rotates in a specific direction on the boundary with the
main window, this is exemplary only and not to be considered as a
limitation of the invention. Alternatively, the supplementary
window may rotate in any direction on any point of the main window.
This rotation scheme for the supplementary window may be varied
according to a user's setting. The same may apply to the
sub-supplementary window.
[0070] The above-discussed mobile device 100 may essentially or
selectively include any other elements. For instance, the mobile
device 100 may further include a short range communication module,
a digital camera module, a wired or wireless data transmission
interface, an Internet access module, a digital broadcast receiving
module, and so forth. According to a digital convergence tendency
today, such elements may be varied, modified and improved in
various ways, and any other elements equivalent to the above
elements may be additionally or alternatively equipped in the
mobile device 100. Meanwhile, as will be understood by those
skilled in the art, some of the above-mentioned elements in the
mobile device 100 may be omitted or replaced with another.
[0071] Additionally, the mobile device 100 of this invention may
include any type of electronic devices. For instance, the mobile
device 100 may include mobile communication devices, multimedia
players and their application equipment, especially including many
mobile communication terminals based on various communication
protocols, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a digital
broadcasting player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a music
player (e.g., an MP3 player), a portable game console, a smart
phone, a notebook, a handheld personal computer, etc.
[0072] The above-described methods according to the present
invention can be implemented in hardware, firmware or as software
or computer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a
CD ROM, an RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical
disk or computer code downloaded over a network originally stored
on a remote recording medium or a non-transitory machine readable
medium and to be stored on a local recording medium, so that the
methods described herein can be rendered in such software that is
stored on the recording medium using a general purpose computer, or
a special processor or in programmable or dedicated hardware, such
as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art, the
computer, the processor, microprocessor controller or the
programmable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM,
Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computer code
that when accessed and executed by the computer, processor or
hardware implement the processing methods described herein. In
addition, it would be recognized that when a general purpose
computer accesses code for implementing the processing shown
herein, the execution of the code transforms the general purpose
computer into a special purpose computer for executing the
processing shown herein.
[0073] While this invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to an exemplary embodiment thereof, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes
in form and details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
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